Zounds! Outdoor Shakespeare Abounds Near Puget Sound!

I’m updating this post for 2019! At this point, not all of the dates for 2019 for outdoor Shakespeare productions that I know of are in. You can navigate to the bottom of this post for events currently on our calendar.

The featured image for this post is from the Folger Shakespeare Library— did you know that they released a ton of images with a share-alike license. The collection is fascinating to browse and another way to lose yourself online.

This article contains some affiliate links. That means if you click on a link that is an affiliate link, and then make a subsequent purchase, I get a small commission which helps me support this blog (and justify it to the powers-that-be).

Sigh no more! Summer is coming. I love being outdoors, and I love theater, so one of the many things I’m looking forward to this summer is attending some outdoor Shakespeare performances. In 2018, I saw Seattle Shakespeare‘s (indoor) performance of Shakespeare in Love at the Cornish playhouse. Sadly, “Romeo and Ethel the Pirate’s Daughter” shall remain one of Shakespeare’s um…lost…plays, but outdoor performances of his published plays abound in our area, including that of Ethel’s lesser cousin, “Romeo and Juliet”. And many of them are, blessedly, free. Seeing Shakespeare performed outdoors seems, somehow, right. Performances for most troupes are during July and August to catch the good weather though, around here, we never quite know what to expect. Remember to pack your own seating and some extra layers for evening performances. I especially love the mid afternoon performances on a sunny day — a perfect time to pack your festival blanket and a picnic.

Free Productions:

Put money in thy purse (but if you enjoy the show, consider a donation to the theater company). If you donate at the Outdoor Theater Festival, Seattle Shakespeare might make you an official groundling.

Outdoor Theater Festival

GreenStage, Wooden O and other local theater groups sponsor The Seattle Outdoor Theater Festival at Volunteer Park in July. Performances are from various theater groups from the very small to the professional Seattle Shakespeare Company.

It’s a great free event — even people who don’t generally like Shakespeare (like my spouse) may enjoy this event — pack a picnic and bring your (low) festival chairs or blankets as seating is on the lawn. In 2018, David Pichette’s performance as King Lear was stunning and made my husband conjecture that The Bard must have been a bit crazy himself.

Pre-show music before Edmonds City Park production of Much Ado About Nothing back in 2010.

GreenStage

Greenstage is Seattle’s Shakespeare in the Park company. Productions are mostly held around the Seattle area — they used to hold a production or two at Battle Point Park on Bainbridge Island in the past but I’d guess that either productions weren’t well attended or coming over to our side of the pond on the ferry was too problematic.

Wooden O

Wooden O is the summer outdoor Shakespeare branch of Seattle Shakespeare Company. Productions are in parks ranging from Seattle north to Lynnwood and Edmonds, on the Eastside and south to Tacoma. As one would expect from Seattle Shakespeare, productions are very professional.

Island Shakespeare Festival

The Island Shakespeare Festival is held in Langley on Whidbey Island; performances are pay what you will. In 2019, they’ll be putting on A Midsummer Night’s Dream and The Winter’s Tale as well as an adaptation of Dante’s Inferno. Specific performance times haven’t yet been announced as of this writing but performances are generally held Thursday through Sunday at 6 PM.

Last Leaf

Last Leaf puts on one hour versions of two plays every year; perfect for kids or those of us adults with attention spans to short to sit through full length productions. In 2019 their productions will be As You Like it and Henry VIII. Productions are usually in Woodinville, Lake Stevens, Monroe, Arlington, and Bellevue.

Not Free, But Affordable and Worth It:

Outdoor Theater at Chetzemoka Park in Port Townsend

The Key City Public Theatre in Port Townsend puts on an indoor Shakespeare play in August and then does outdoor performances of it in Chetzemoka Park. In 2019, the play will be The Merry Wives of Windsor. The cost is “as you like it” (by suggested donation) at the gate, while you can purchase tickets on the website for their indoor productions.

Bloedel Reserve

Methinks I am vexed that we do not have more outdoor Shakespeare options here in Kitsap County. (But if you just want outdoor theater in Kitsap, not necessarily Shakespeare, I highly recommend the Kitsap Forest Theater’s musical productions)

Shakespeare Northwest in Mount Vernon/Skagit Shakespeare Festival

Tickets to on sale on Brown Paper Tickets tickets on June 1 and range from $10.00 for students to $35.00 for families. The season runs July 13 – August 18, but specific dates are not yet listed at the time of this writing.

Upcoming Outdoor Shakespeare Events:

These are events that we know of so far. If you know of an event that should be here that’s not on our calendar, you can add it here.

About The Author

The chief (and currently only) blogeuse here at PNW and Beyond. Cheryl is mostly retired from life as an OT and loves to write, so is blogging about a combination of travel and Pacific Northwest events, places, and things to do. She sometimes also does web design and freelance writing at CJ Creatives when she can drag herself away from her own blogs and get herself to send queries or pursue web design clients. She also has a personal blog in various stages of construction. When she's not writing or blogging, she's busy driving her daughter around, drinking coffee, hiking, kayaking, trying to become a better photographer, trying to get back to cycling or riding her Vespa, hanging out with her spouse, or taking care of the house, but gets claustrophobic if she can't get out and wander enough. She usually does not write about herself in third person.

I’d love to hear from you...leave a comment.

Connect with

I allow to create an account

When you login first time using a Social Login button, we collect your account public profile information shared by Social Login provider, based on your privacy settings. We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account.

DisagreeAgree

2500

Connect with

I allow to create an account

When you login first time using a Social Login button, we collect your account public profile information shared by Social Login provider, based on your privacy settings. We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account.

You have Successfully Subscribed!

I send crunchy PNW and Travel goodness to your email box on an irregular basis. Email newsletters are non-spammy and any email newsletter I send will contain an unsubscribe link in the footer in case you should ever no longer want to hear from me. Currently newsletters are a combination of Pacific Northwest related articles and travel, but I'm collecting information about interets so I might be able to customize better as our subscriber base grows.